-Commander Meek
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ADDRESSING OFFICERS:

SIR---Sir is, of course used in addressing all officers higher in rank
or billet (a billet is the officers job position, in some cases an officer my have a billet meant for an officer of higher rank than himself, such as a Marine 2nd LT. having a job meant to be held by a Marine Captain. In this case that the 2nd LT. is afforded all the authority and respect the Captain would have by his subordinates.

Ma'am---Though Sir can be used for a female officer, Ma'am can be used and is considered to be more respectful. In the U.S. Marines it is considered distrustful to address a female officer as Sir.

Mister --- Officers of the rank of LT (or Marine Capt) or lower can be addressed as mister by officers of equal or higher rank.

Captain---On any commissioned ship, there is only one captain. The commanding officer of a vessel, regardless of rank is called the captain. Now, I have heard that the tradition when a Marine captain is aboard, he is to be called 'Major'. This is not true, it belittles all officers who have truly earned the rank of Major, and can cause confusion. The correct way the address any captain not in command of the ship is Skipper. In fact some senior NCOs are known to call Captains Skipper even while off ship (though only if he and the Captain are good friends).

ADDRESSING OTHERS:

Marines--- Marines are called Marines. There are no soldiers in the Marine Corps. It is OK to also call a Marine 'Trooper', but never Soldier.

Pilots---In the U.S. Navy and Marines, Pilots of aircraft are called Aviators, this was meant to set them apart from Airforce and Army pilots. Navy and Marine pilots consider themselves a step above 'pilots', hense the fancy title. It is possible that this tradition may have been carried over to the Starfleet fighter jocks.....Maybe.

Enlisted Personnel---Firstly, Marine enlisted personnel are addressed by their proper rank then last name. Often, I will be watching some show or movie where some guy will address a Gunnery Sergeant as Sarge or just Sergeant. When I was in the Marine Corps, this would have got me my head handed to me on a platter! Staff Sergeants, Gunnery Sergeants, etc, have all earned every stripe on their sleeve. There are 'short names' for some of these ranks that won't get you in hot water, 'Gunny' for Gunnery Sergeants, 'Top' for Top Sergeants and even 'Staff' for Staff Sergeants. Now you're probably wondering, why am I being told this? They can't hurt me, I'm an officer. Wrong! Enlisted work better if they are shown proper respect for there rank, and why not, they earned it!

Second---Navy personnel are a little different often a good way to address them is by their title or sometimes by a 'fusion' of their rank and title. Such as: a Seaman 1st class who works as a bosonsmait (that's a small boat driver to you and me), might be called a Bosonsmait 1st class or just bosonsmait. Also ranks can also be abbreviated (on STNG Chief O'brian wasn't called Chief because he was a chief engineer, he was a Chief Petty Officer, a senior NCO).

There is more, so I may do some more in the future. And again I am not telling anyone how to play their character. But if you decide to use some of these tips, have fun with it!

2nd LT Franklin Gentry SFMC
USS Laffey
TF 44, Bravo Fleet